The Phils are unable to overcome a bad start by Kyle Kendrick as they fall to the Nationals, 6-5, thus being unable to complete the sweep of their Eastern Division rival.

The Nationals took an early lead in the first as, with a runner on third and with nobody out, Cristian Guzman hits an RBI single, scoring Nyjer Morgan, who had earlier tripled, giving the Nats a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, the Nats made it 2-0 as, with runners on second and third, and still with nobody out, Adam Dunn hits an RBI ground out, 3-unassisted, scoring Guzman, who has earlier went to third on Ryan Zimmerman’s double, while Zimmerman would move up to third on the ground out. The Nats then made it 3-0 as, now with one out, and a runner on third, Josh Willingham hits a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Zimmerman. The Phils got a run back in the second as, with a runner on third, and with one man out, Shane Victorino hits into an RBI ground out, 4-3, scoring Jayson Werth, who had lead-off the inning with a double and then went to third on a Raul Ibanez ground out, also 4-3, cutting the Nats’ lead to 3-1. The Phils would make it 3-2 Nats in the third as, with runners on second and third, and with one out, Chase Utley hits into an RBI ground out, 3-unassisted, scoring Jimmy Rollins, who has earlier singled, and then went to third on Placido Polanco’s double, while Polanco, who had just doubled, moved up to third. The Nats would increase their lead in the fourth as, with a runner on first, and with one out, Willie Harris would hit a two-run home run, his first home run of the season, scoring Dunn, who had earlier singled, giving the Nats a 5-2 lead. The Phils made it 5-3 in the fifith as, with a runner on first, and with one man out, Polanco hits a single into center field, which is misplaced by Morgan for a fielding error, allowing pinch hitter Ross Gload, who has earlier singled, to score, and allowing Polanco to go all the way to third on the two-base error. Two batters later, with Polanco still on third, and with two men out, Ryan Howard hits an RBI single, scoring Polanco, making it a 5-4 Nats’ lead. The Phils would tie the game up at five-all in the sixth as, with the bases loaded, via consecutive walks to Ibanez and Victorino, with Ibanez moving up to second on Victorino’s walk, a sacrifice bunt by Brian Schneider, which moved Ibanez to third and sent Victorino on to second, and pinch hitter Ben Francisco being hit by the pitch, and with only one man out, Rollins would hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Ibanez from third with the tying run, while sending Victorino on to third base. The Nationals would take the lead for good in the seventh as, with a runner on third, and with two men out, Zimmerman hits an RBI double, knocking in pinch hitter Alberto Gonzalez, who had earlier walked, moved up to second on Morgan’s sacrifice bunt, 1-3, and then moved up to third base on Guzman’s ground out, 3-1, giving the Nats a 6-5 lead. That would be the final score as the Nats would turn back Phils’ rallies in both the eighth and the ninth, with Matt Capps recording his first save of the year as he got Victorino to pop up to Guzman with the tying run on third to end the game.

Kyle Kendrick had a bad start as he received a no-decision as he pitches only four innings, giving up five runs on six hits, while he strikes out two. Jose Contreras pitches a scoreless inning, giving up only one hit. Nelson Figueroa, whom the Phils had just picked off the waivers wire from the New York Mets, takes the lost as he pitches two innings, giving up a run on one hit and three walks. His record is now 0-1 with an ERA of 4.50. Antonio Bastardo pitches two-thirds of an inning, getting out both batters that he would face, including one by strikeout. David Herndon pitches a third of an inning, giving up a hit. Craig Stammen also receives a no-decision as he went five innings, giving up four runs on nine hits, as he strikes out one. Sean Burnett records his first hold of the season as he pitches a third of an inning, giving up a run on two walks. Tyler Clippard blew his first save of the season before getting the win as he pitches an inning and two-thirds, giving up a hit while striking out a batter. His record is now 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Brian Bruney records his first hold of the season as he pitches a scoreless inning, giving up a hit and a walk. Matt Capps records his first save as he pitches a scoreless inning, giving up only a hit and a walk.

The Phils had twelve hits in the game, with Jayson Werth leading the team with three hits, all doubles, as he raised his average up to .308. Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard each followed with two hits apiece, with Rollins, Polanco and Utley each recording a single and a double, while Howard had two singles. Ross Gload had the Phils other hit, a pinch hit single, the team’s first pinch hit of the year. Shane Victorino, Utley, Howard and Rollins each knocked in a run, with Victorino’s RBI coming on a ground out, and Rollins’ on a sacrifice fly, while the Phils’ other run came in on an error on Polanco’s single in the fifth.

The Phils (2-1, tied-1st place NL East) continue their road trip with a visit to Houston where they will face the Astros (0-3, 6th NL Central). The game will be played at Minute Maid Park and will begin at (7:05 pm Central (8:05 pm Eastern)). The Phils will send to the mound NL Rookie of the Year candidate J.A. Happ (0-0, -.–), who will be trying to prove that last year was no fluke. He will be opposed by Bud Norris (0-0, -.–), who will be trying to end the Astros’ three-game losing streak. The Phils will be coming to Houston trying to reverse their recent bad luck while facing the presently bad Astros.